It will come as little surprise to those of us who “sheltered in place” for a year or more that the number of home renovation projects in the U.S. are way up post-pandemic. It seems that spending every waking hour in our homes, we became all too familiar with the shortcomings of various rooms—and most of us were itching to make changes. According to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders, bathrooms topped the list of renovation activities, accounting for 74% of all remodeling projects. And that makes sense. Who doesn’t long to turn their hum-drum bathroom into a luxurious sanctuary, with smart storage and smart-looking fixtures?
The good news is, you don’t have to fully gut your bathroom, in order to give it a glam upgrade. After scrolling through hundreds of posts on Instagram to find some decor inspiration, we’re convinced that the dream can be reality! Keep reading for some inspiration, plus ideas for how you can steal these expensive-looking ideas for yourself.
1. Airy open shelves
Open shelves aren’t just for the kitchen, as we can see in this post from @thistle.harvest.
“Open shelves make spaces feel larger, which is great for small bathrooms,” says Colin Haentjens, designer for The Knobs Co. “If the intent is to have a light and airy bathroom, pick shelves with a light color or a clear-stained natural wood—and be sure not to overwhelm your shelves with toiletries or decorations, [as] this will just make the space feel crowded.”
Get the look: Check out this three-tiered marble and brass shelf from CB2.
2. Floor-to-ceiling backsplash
Who says you can’t cover an entire wall with a backsplash? Certainly not @my_home_my_haven.
“This small detail creates a huge impact for a bathroom, and makes your ceiling look 12 feet high for a European flair,” says designer Michelle Harrison-McAllister of Michelle Harrison Design. “Not to mention, the constant water splash is much easier to clean on tile like these. This will be by far the most dramatic and show-stopping feature for your home; your guests may never want to leave the bathroom.”
Get the look: Shop this collection of mosaic tiles from the Tile Shop to design your very own floor-to-ceiling backsplash.
3. Rosy ceramic sink
What’s better than a classic white porcelain sink? A concrete one that comes in a rosy hue, like this basin featured by @alexrowe.
“If you do nothing but add this rosy-style sink to your bathroom, you’ll be so happy you did,” says Harrison-McAllister. “This one swift change will instantly elevate the design of your bathroom.”
Get the look: Add some rose-colored magic to your bathroom with this pink concrete basin from Etsy.
4. Glittering gold hardware
All that glitters is gold, especially when it’s bringing these levels of za-za-zing (thanks, @lightsandhome) to your bathroom.
“Gold hardware adds warmth, particularly in bathrooms, which commonly feel too cold,” says Jenna Sheingold of Jenna Sheingold Studio. “Gold also feels so timeless, and really elevates a space.”
Swapping out your towel bars and toilet paper holder is a simple way to update a bathroom without remodeling. Just make sure that warmth is repeated in another element—like with a brass soap dispenser or rimmed mirror, Sheingold says.
Get the look: Check out these gold towel bars on Etsy, paired with this Nusteel glacier soap dish.
5. Midnight-blue vanity
While sinks and fixtures turn to rose and gold, vanities are going dark to create some amazing contrast—like in this photo from @prettyonfridays.
Ready to shake up your vanity?
“Ditch the classic white for a bold statement color,” says Harrison-McAllister. “This rich midnight-blue vanity has so much personality and style, not to mention storage with a modern twist. Adding a contrast in the bathroom gives it that vacation feeling of unexpected delight.”
Get the look: Repaint your bathroom vanity with Admiral Blue from Benjamin Moore, or shop this midnight blue double bathroom vanity from Signature Hardware.
